Chapter 14: The Nocturnal Groove.
Adam POV
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The rough terrain sent jolts through the stolen bike as I sped forward, trees and greenery blurring into streaks of muted colors. The wind wasn’t just chilly—it carried a strange weight, as if the entire world was whispering a warning.
Erza’s words lingered in my mind, gnawing at my thoughts. "Alper, please be okay."
I’d spent my entire life in the underworld, surrounded by deception, manipulation, and the illusion of protection. Yet, never—not once—had I heard someone speak to me with the raw, genuine concern Erza had shown for Alper. His voice wasn’t coated with obligation or hidden agendas. It was real. Uncomfortably real.
“…Alper.” Nove’s voice broke the silence, her usual monotone tinged with a rare note of concern. “Why are you running away from your family? They mean to help you.”
“I…” I faltered. My instincts screamed at me to stand my ground, to justify my actions. But for the first time, doubt began to claw its way into my mind, a small whisper I couldn’t ignore. I shook my head violently, trying to silence it.
No. Don’t give in. No matter how genuine they seem. Never forget the pain.
“Nove… can you trust me?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended. It wasn’t a command or a statement—it was a plea. I didn’t understand why I was asking this. Nove was bound to me, programmed to assist me. She couldn’t leave me even if she wanted to. Yet, for reasons I couldn’t explain, the thought of her resenting me… it stung.
“I’m your Nexus Core, Alper. I follow your commands,” she replied, her tone steady, professional.
I nodded, forcing a smile to no one in particular. “Thanks, Nove.” The words felt hollow. I paused, considering a dozen different excuses I could give her. But every time I tried to lie, my throat constricted. “I just… I can’t go back. Not now. The time isn’t right.”
“Affirmative,” she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. But I swore I felt something—disappointment, maybe—drift between us. It was faint, barely there, but enough to leave a bitter taste in my mouth.
The dirt path ahead twisted and turned, the dense forest growing darker with each passing moment. I broke the silence again, more to fill the void than anything else. “Nove, am I going the right way?” My words sounded heavier than I meant them to. I wasn’t just asking about the physical path but the choices I was making, the road I was carving for myself.
“You are headed toward the kingdom you requested, where clan influence is minimal,” Nove confirmed. The kingdom I’m heading to should be a suitable location to gather unbiased information about the clans.
Nove and I had already discussed my other Nexus Core, and her reaction had been far from comforting. She seemed uneasy—scared even—the more she unraveled its secrets. According to her, unique Nexus Cores existed in abundance, each with their quirks and specialties. But one that consumed other Nexus Cores? That was unprecedented. Terrifyingly unprecedented.
The bike slowed down as if sensing the gravity of my thoughts.
"Almost out of fuel," Nove informed me.
I nodded silently and let the bike carry me as far as it could before it sputtered to a stop. The night enveloped the forest in an eerie quiet, and every shadow seemed to stretch with malicious intent. I knew Erza and his crew were likely still on my tail, their vehicles closing in, so there was no time to waste.
I quickly asked Nove to hide the bike using Metalweaving.
Without hesitation, she manipulated the earth with ease, opening a pit beneath the bike with base arts. The machine dropped into the hole like a swallowed secret, and the ground sealed itself, leaving no trace of what lay beneath. It was seamless—too seamless. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have believed the bike had never existed.
“This should throw them off my trail,” I muttered. But I couldn’t let my guard down. Not yet.
The wilderness wasn’t just a hiding place; it was a monster’s playground. Nove had warned me of the dangers lurking in the dark. And with half my NEP spent during the chaotic escape, I wasn’t in the best shape to fight. My dirt shoes—hastily crafted but functional—helped muffle my footsteps as I moved deeper into the forest, keeping my senses sharp.
A soft, ethereal glow caught my attention ahead—a faint luminance cutting through the oppressive dark. Nove advised me to approach cautiously, and I agreed. Light in a place like this could mean safety or danger, and I wasn’t about to assume either.
Quiet as a shadow, I advanced, clutching the crude dagger the leader had given me. I still didn’t know his name—a detail that seemed oddly bothersome now. Regardless, I asked Nove to help me craft a simple sheath for the blade. She used nearby branches to fashion a basic wooden holder, reinforced with some of my webbing to create a makeshift sling. I strapped it to my hip, the rough but practical setup allowing for quick access.
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As I approached the glowing area, I couldn’t help but pause in awe. The forest itself seemed alive with light, its natural beauty casting an almost dreamlike glow around me.
Bluish-green flowers sprouted here and there, their petals shimmering faintly like they held tiny galaxies within. Mushrooms perched on top of small boulders, their caps radiating a soft, otherworldly light. A deer pranced gracefully in the distance, its antlers adorned with glowing fungi that swayed gently as it moved.
It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, a stark departure from the bustling, artificial lights of the cities I once knew. Here, in this vibrant and surreal world, I felt a strange and unexpected sense of peace.
“Nove,” I whispered, “should I even be here?”
“Yes,” she replied calmly. “This is a Nocturnal Groove biome. The creatures here are generally peaceful. However…” She paused, as if weighing her next words. “Disturbing them is considered taboo. They are powerful, but they will not harm you unless you disrupt their territory. Be cautious, though—normal animals like snakes, wild dogs, and boars can still pose a threat.”
I nodded, her words both reassuring and cautionary. As I crept deeper into the forest, I accidentally stepped on a branch, the snap reverberating through the tranquil air. A pair of glowing eyes glinted from the darkness, locking onto me for a moment before vanishing as quickly as they appeared. It was as if the forest had decided I wasn’t a threat and returned to its peaceful vigil.
Still, I tread carefully, my movements slow and deliberate as I followed Nove’s directions.
The deeper I ventured, the more enchanted I became. Giant flowers, their petals larger than my entire body, shimmered in hues of blue and pink, lighting the forest floor like nature’s own lanterns. The grass beneath my feet twinkled faintly, as if I were walking on a magical carpet. Enormous black moths with wings that mirrored the night sky flitted silently above, while wolves with fur shimmering in hues of black and blue passed by, their eyes reflecting constellations like windows into another universe.
When I first arrived in this world, I promised to extract and create unique wonders using Metalweaving and Alchemy. However, this forest held such a sacred aura to it that it urged me to leave it untouched. Like a canvas, I was afraid I’d ruin it.
I continued walking cautiously through the glowing forest, each step revealing more of its wonders until I stumbled upon something truly breathtaking. In the clearing ahead, a butterfly of extraordinary size floated in the air, its wings shimmering in a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to shift and dance with the light.
It moved with a carefree grace, fluttering against the gentle breeze as if it had no particular destination, simply basking in the joy of existence. The entire forest seemed to hold its breath, the usual hum of life fading into silence as though everything had paused to admire this majestic creature.
I couldn’t stop the words that slipped out of my mouth. “So beautiful…”
Nove’s voice chimed in, her usual calm tone carrying an air of reverence. “That is a celestial butterfly. Little is known about them, but their presence is considered an omen of good fortune. They are said to be protected by beings known as Astral Nymphs.”
“Good fortune, huh?” I murmured, watching it with fascination. For a moment, I thought to leave the butterfly to its tranquility. But then, as if it had noticed me, it turned and drifted closer, its luminous wings creating a gentle glow in the dim light.
“Uh, Nove?” I whispered nervously.
“It doesn’t appear to harbor any malice toward you,” she reassured me.
“You can tell?”
“Yes. Its movements are non-hostile.”
Still, I raised my hand defensively as it approached, unsure of what to expect. The butterfly, now as large as my head, hovered in front of me, its wings beating softly. Then, to my amazement, it began circling me in a graceful, playful dance.
I sat down slowly, watching as the celestial butterfly settled just inches from my face. I waved my hand tentatively, and to my surprise, it flitted closer as if responding to my gesture.
“Hey there, little guy,” I said softly. “Don’t mind me—just passing through. You keep playing.”
To my astonishment, it seemed to react, twirling joyfully in the air as if appreciating my company. I couldn’t help but chuckle, the unexpected interaction warming my heart in a way I hadn’t felt in ages.
Feeling unusually at peace, I lay back on the shimmering grass, the soft glow of the forest around me providing an almost dreamlike ambiance. Though I wasn’t particularly tired, the serenity of the magical forest and the butterfly’s ethereal presence made me want to linger.
The celestial butterfly, in all its splendor, danced closer and suddenly perched delicately on my nose. The sensation was surreal—like a whisper of silk brushing against my skin. I barely had time to marvel at its presence when a slender, luminous hand reached down and plucked the butterfly away.
Startled, I instinctively rolled back, putting some distance between myself and this unexpected intruder. My heart pounded as I prepared for the worst, but what stood before me was nothing short of otherworldly.
The figure wasn’t just a person or a creature; it was something far beyond comprehension. Humanoid in form, yet ethereal and cosmic, she radiated an aura of divine elegance. Her very being seemed to shimmer with the light of distant stars, her presence an embodiment of the night sky itself. Stardust danced along her skin, and her hair flowed behind her like liquid silver, each strand glowing faintly, as if catching the light of a million unseen moons.
I tried to speak, but my voice failed me. All I managed was a stammered, incoherent string of sounds as her gaze locked onto me. Her eyes, deep and endless like the void of space, seemed to hold both curiosity and ancient wisdom, as though she was unraveling my very essence with her look.
With an air of quiet grace, she released the celestial butterfly, and it fluttered away, vanishing into the depths of the glowing forest. Yet her gaze remained fixed on me. She tilted her head slightly, her expression a mixture of confusion and intrigue, as if I were the anomaly in this mystical tableau.
As I stood frozen, unsure of what to do, she began to move. Slowly, deliberately, she took a step closer, then another. Despite my racing heart, I sensed no threat from her and chose to stand my ground. Her presence was disarming in its beauty, and I found myself unwilling to look away.
When she reached me, her hand extended slowly, her movements fluid and deliberate. I braced myself, unsure of what was about to happen. And then… she patted my head.